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China has rapidly pursued technological self-reliance, including
in chips, as U.S.-led restrictions barred it from accessing some
of the world’s most advanced AI chips and cutting-edge
chipmaking machines.
Huawei introduced the Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing cluster at
the event, a faster successor to the model it launched only
months ago with improvements in AI training and “inference,”
referring to the process when a trained AI makes predictions or
decisions.
Huawei also plans to launch the Ascend 970 and 980 chip series
in 2028 and 2029, with expectations of significant improvements
in computing power.
“The timing — less than two weeks before President Xi Jinping’s
visit to Washington — underscores Beijing’s confidence and
ambition in technology and innovation,” said George Chen, a
partner and chair of digital practice at The Asia Group
consultancy.
Huawei’s announcement also came as Trump downplayed AI leaders’
call to slow development of the technology for safety purposes.
Trump insisted the U.S. must maintain its lead over China,
saying “whoever wins in AI, wins.”
“AI developments move so quickly that no one can be certain of
holding the lead forever,” Chen said.
Advanced technologies in China such as the training of AI models
still often rely on U.S. chips, including those from Nvidia,
analysts say. But Huawei has made its own advanced chips and
maintains a lead over Chinese chip developers, as AI companies
in China increasingly embrace the use of domestic chips.
The Atlas 960 SuperPoD computing cluster raised eyebrows among
some technology analysts by coming soon after the company rolled
out the Atlas 950 SuperPod late last year.
“The fact that Huawei achieved this upgrade in just a year, far
quicker than before, will only heighten U.S. anxiety about the
accelerating AI competition,” Chen said.
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